Long-serving Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina has put forward a resolution that calls for displaying a bust of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the U.S. Capitol.
“Resolved, That the House of Representatives directs the Fine Arts Board to obtain a bust of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for display in a suitable, permanent location in the House of Representatives wing of the United States Capitol,” the resolution states.
Wilson has served as a House lawmaker for more than two decades.
The U.S. has spent billions of dollars backing Ukraine as that beleaguered nation strives to fight against a Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine “fully understand the meaning behind the American Revolution mottos of Don’t Tread On Me and Live Free or Die,” Wilson said in a December tweet. “The United States stands with Ukraine for victory.”
Last month, while addressing a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, Zelenskyy declared, “Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.”
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky responded by tweeting, “It is not charity. Charity would be given freely. The American taxpayers have been conscripted into making welfare payments to this foreign government.” Massie had previously tweeted, “I’m in DC but I will not be attending the speech of the Ukrainian lobbyist.”
Last month, Congress passed an around $1.7 trillion omnibus package that ran thousands of pages long — the mammoth measure included billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine.
“Congratulations to @GOPLeader on his election as the Speaker,” Zelenskyy tweeted after Republican Kevin McCarthy of California secured the House speakership last week. “U.S. support in all fields has been vital for [Ukraine]’s success on the battlefield. We’re counting on your continued support and further U.S. assistance to bring our common victory closer.”
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